Schumer seems to be the real force behind Frankens ouster

While Gillibrand led the charge like a good lieutenant for the senior senator from her state, Mayer's article implies that Schumer wanted him gone and didn't lift a finger to save him. And in fact actively worked against him.

It makes sense that Gillibrand couldn't have gotten rid of Al if Schumer had his back.

Not impressed with either of them for removing one of our best fighters against lies and the GOP.

2. Summary execution without trial

3. She most likely convinced

him to go forward. In order to push her agenda she needed the ok of the Democratic Senate leader. I doubt he came up with the idea on his own. Most satisfying to me is she has diminished her power with her colleagues.

Minutes after Politico posted the story, Senator Gillibrandís chief of staff called Frankenís to say that Gillibrand was going to demand his resignation. Franken was stung by Gillibrandís failure to call him personally. They had been friends and squash partners. In a later call, Gillibrandís chief of staff offered to have Gillibrand speak with Franken, but by that time Franken was frantically conferring with his staff and his family. Frankenís office proposed that Frankenís daughter speak with Gillibrand instead, but Gillibrand declined.

Gillibrand then went on Facebook and posted her demand that Franken resign: ďEnough is enough. The women who have come forward are brave and I believe them. While itís true that his behavior is not the same as the criminal conduct alleged against Roy Moore, or Harvey Weinstein, or President Trump, it is still unquestionably wrong, and should not be tolerated.Ē

Minutes later, at a previously scheduled press conference, Gillibrand added insult to injury: she reiterated her call for Franken to resign while also trumpeting her sponsorship of a new bill that banned mandatory arbitration of sexual-harassment claims. She didnít mention that Franken had originated the legislationóand had given it to Gillibrand to sponsor, out of concern that it might be imperilled by his scandal.

And, from the NYDAILY news article yesterday:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) was the first Democratic senator to call for Frankenís head after the #MeToo allegations first surfaced against him. The allegations quickly snowballed and several female senators told Schumer they wanted action against Franken.